Band: Wind Rose (I) Genre: Power Metal Label: Scarlet Records Albumtitle: Wardens Of The West Wind Duration: 51:01 Releasedate: 17.02.2015

Small but mighty but above all epic. This intro starts the second album of the Italian Power/Symphonic Metal Band Wind Rose with the first song "Age Of Conquest". One feels directly reminded of the German with the massive start of the choir in combination with slightly progressive Speed/Power Metal. Even the vocals of frontman Cavalieri sound like a fusion of Mister Kürsch and Iron Savior's Piet Sielck with a pinch of Jorn Lande.

The catchy style of the beginning doesn't effected continiously and changes into a more progressive style than the opener. Next the band rather reminds of Symphony X mixed up with highly melodical choirs of Orden Ogan. But even that sounds interesting.

However, a song like "The Breed of During" gets out of line and sounds very clear like modern and hard Folk Metal above long passages.

I like especially the hymn "Skull And Crossbones" which sounds really symphonical and is suitable as Pirate Metal. It should be also noted that the band repeats certain passages only seldom and so some catchy choir remains as unicum. This is also the problem I have with the album, because you need several runs to bear it in mind. Nevertheless, it is a glorious produced and masterly played album full of crashing metal riffs bursting upon forceful orchestral work. Furthermore, the ensemble is refined with awesome choirs and guitar solos crowned with a really wonderful artwork that invites you to buy it. The final song "Rebel and Free" takes the helm again with the catchy structure.

Conclusion: Friends of already named bands can grab it and be pleased with high quality. The album is quite a pleasure while listening, but isn't something for inbetween. It needs more attention. The missing catchiness reduces my pleasure in some songs, but in contrast the album offers a lot of hymns. Just what I expect of an album like this. The mixture is good and knew how to please.

Rating: 8/10

Recommendations: The Breed Of Durin, Skull And Crossbones, Rebel And Free

Weblink: http://www.windroseofficial.com/ , http://www.facebook.com/windroseofficial

LineUp:

Daniele Visconti - Drums, Vocals (backing) Claudio Falconcini - Guitars, Vocals (backing) Federico Meranda - Keyboards Francesco Cavalieri - Vocals Cristiano Bertocchi - Bass

Metal Only e.V. Wolfgang Steiner Hohenstaufenstr. 56 D-73779 Deizisau [email protected] www.metal-only.de

Tracklist:

01. Where Dawn And Shadows Begin 02. Age Of Conquest 03. Heavenly Minds 04. The Breed Of Durin 05. Ode To The West Wind 06. Skull And Crossbones 07. The Slave And The Empire 08. Spartacus 09. Born In The Cradle Of Storms 10. Rebel And Free

Author: Slaine / Translator: Dine

Metal Only e.V. Wolfgang Steiner Hohenstaufenstr. 56 D-73779 Deizisau [email protected] www.metal-only.de